On Monday, Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker did not reach an agreement with the team when it came to a potential extension that would have kept him with the team for multiple years to come. Many did not know what would come of the chance for extension as it relates to the former second overall pick as he’s coming back from his second knee injury.To make matters even more tricky for Milwaukee, Philadelphia 76ers inked Joel Embiid to a massive 140 million dollar deal with injury provisions built in. Bucks were smart in not pulling the trigger right now and head to restricted free agency next summer.

Mitch, my podcast partner, banged this drum on the podcast today, and he has for awhile that this deal could not be done if it paid Parker more than Giannis Antetokounmpo. I’m starting to believe that had something to do with it. From an optics level, Parker getting paid 130 million would spark Bleacher Report and Ringer articles until the cows came home about the Bucks dissing Giannis. Maybe I’m naive, but I think what Milwaukee would like to do is sign both players this summer. Give Parker the money he wants as well as give Giannis a major extension to keep him a Buck for a long time. It’s logical that the team did not want to do this prior to the season as they can pay Giannis at an affordable rate.

Another part of this has to be the Bucks playing wait or see with that knee injury. They’ve done a great job in highlighting that Parker is rehabilitating it at a rapid rate, but at the same time, the team would like to see how he looks on the court. Part of the reason why Embiid got the deal he did is due to the way he played in those 31 games. It was a enough of a sample size for Philly to bet on him long-term, and I would have too as the injury provisions help him out.

We’ll see what happens with the Bucks and Parker for the season. Who knows if he expected it to be done or if this was the plan all along. We’re a day away from Bucks basketball, yet next offseason is already a storyline.

Charlie.